16th a Paper to the Cambridge Philosophical Society on a correction to the length of a ball-pendulum:  and on Dec. 14th a Paper on certain conditions under which perpetual motion is possible.—­The engravings for my Figure of the Earth in the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana were dispatched at the end of the year.  Some of the Paper (perhaps much) was written after my return from the Continent.—­I began, but never finished, a Paper on the form of the Earth supposed to be projecting at middle latitudes.  In this I refer to the printed Paper which Nicollet gave me at Paris.  I believe that the investigations for my Paper in the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana led me to think the supposition unnecessary.—­On Nov. 6th I was elected member of the Geological Society.

“On Nov. 16th 1829 notice was given of a Grace to authorize payment to me of L157. 9s. 1d., in conformity with the regulations adopted on Feb. 27th, and on Nov. 18th the Grace passed the Senate.  On Nov. 19th the Vice-Chancellor wrote me a note enclosing the cheque.  On Nov. 23rd (practically the first day on which I could go) I went to London and travelled to Edensor, where I arrived on the 26th.  Here I found Richarda Smith, proposed to her, and was accepted.  I stayed there a few days, and returned to Cambridge.”

1830

“On Jan. 25th 1830 the Smith’s Prize Paper was prepared.  I was (with my Assistant, Mr Baldrey) vigorously working the Transit Instrument and its reductions, and gradually forming a course of proceeding which has had a good effect on European Astronomy.  And I was preparing for my marriage.

“On Mar. 11th I started with my sister to London, and arrived at Edensor on the afternoon of the 14th.  On the 17th I started alone for Manchester and Liverpool.  Through Mr Mason, a cotton-spinner at Calver, near Edensor, I had become acquainted with Mr John Kennedy of Manchester, and I had since 1824 been acquainted with Dr Traill of Liverpool.  Amongst other things, I saw the works of the Manchester and Liverpool Railway, then advancing and exciting great interest, and saw George Stephenson and his son.  On Mar. 24th I was married to Richarda Smith by her father in Edensor.  We stopped at Edensor till Apr. 1st, and then started in chaises by way of Newark and Kettering (where we were in danger of being stopped by the snow), and arrived at Cambridge on Apr. 3rd.

“I was now busy in preparing for lectures, especially the part of the optical lectures which related to the theory of interferences and polarization.  I think it was now that my wife drew some of my lecture pictures, exhibiting interference phenomena.  My lectures began on Apr. 26th and finished on May 24th.  The number of names was 50.  They were considered an excellent course of lectures.